The book consists of thirteen chapters, with each chapter being written by a different author.

This unique approach makes it a bit of a hit or miss. Some chapters may truly captivate the reader with their engaging stories and vivid descriptions, while others might not quite hit the mark.

However, despite this variability, the book remains a quick and fun read. It offers a diverse range of perspectives and writing styles, which can be both refreshing and entertaining.

Readers can dip in and out of the chapters, depending on their mood and interests. Whether you're looking for a light-hearted escape or a thought-provoking exploration of different themes, this book has something to offer.

Overall, it's a collection that is well worth checking out, especially if you enjoy reading works from a variety of authors.

Don't waste your time. Time is a precious resource that once lost, can never be regained. Every moment counts and should be utilized effectively.

We often find ourselves engaged in activities that do not contribute to our growth or well-being. These could be mindless scrolling through social media, watching excessive amounts of television, or simply procrastinating.

Instead, we should focus on tasks that are meaningful and important. Set goals for yourself and work towards achieving them. Use your time to learn new skills, pursue your hobbies, or spend quality time with loved ones.

Remember, time is a finite resource. Make the most of it and don't let it slip away. Every second counts, so use it wisely and make a difference in your life.

Quick entertaining read. It's truly interesting to get a sampler pack where around 12 authors do honors on a chapter.

However, 25 years later, it's rather sad to think about the poor manatees running out of food. :-(

Our book club has now embarked on a new theme. We decided to read a book set in each state. We kicked off with Florida :-).

Previously, we had finished up the last theme which was reading books set in each Canadian Province and Territories. It was a very interesting experience. We got to explore the different cultures, landscapes, and stories from across Canada. It broadened our horizons and gave us a new appreciation for the diversity within that country. Now, with this new theme of reading books set in each state, we are excited to discover the unique aspects of each state in the US. We look forward to delving into the rich tapestry of American literature and learning more about the various regions.

Not great, but really good.

I like the premise of a bunch of authors agreeing to create a novel. Each successive chapter is the responsibility of a new author. Certainly, some authors work hard to leave the end of a chapter with something very challenging for the follow-on person. This kind of collaborative writing method sounds really interesting and full of creativity.

And of course, I was not aware of the creation of NAKED CAME THE STRANGER under similar circumstances, but decades earlier. It's quite astonishing to know that such a unique way of creating a novel existed so long ago.

I will recommend this interesting concept to my daughter. Maybe she will also be inspired by it and come up with some wonderful ideas for her own writing. It could be a great way for her to explore different writing styles and collaborate with others in the future.

Overall, I think this is a really good and worthy idea that can bring a lot of fun and excitement to the world of literature.

Thirteen Florida writers embarked on a rather unique literary experiment. They passed around a round-robin crime thriller, with each contributing a chapter to the story of two bumbling, small-time thieves. These thieves were hired to transport mysterious cargo across Biscayne Bay. What ensued was a wild and wacky tale that included a manatee named Booger, a 102-year-old woman who had a penchant for skinny dipping at midnight with the manatee, three heads of Fidel Castro (and only one was still attached!), Jimmy Carter, and various series characters belonging to the writers themselves.

The story was filled with a motley crew of characters, including gangsters, Castro rivals, reporters, and lawyers, all vying to hold onto the precious canisters containing Castro's heads. Bodies seemed to show up everywhere, from the Bay to a bridge to a low-profile hotel. With thirteen writers adding more and more complications in every chapter, it was truly anyone's guess what the plot was and how it would all end.

Sometimes, these round-robin writing adventures can be a resounding success. Take, for example, The Floating Admiral by members of the Detection Club. The likes of Agatha Christie and Dorothy L. Sayers made every effort to create a mystery that was not only highly entertaining but also made sense and tied up all the loose ends satisfactorily. However, this particular round-robin effort left a lot to be desired. It seemed that every time one writer tried to give the story some semblance of continuity, the next writer would throw in something completely unexpected,打乱了节奏. It felt as if most of the writers were engaged in a game of one-upmanship, each trying to outdo the previous one.
At best, this is a light and fluffy bit of entertainment. But unfortunately, it doesn't reach that level very often. The most likable characters in the story are the manatee and Marion McAlister Williams, our elderly skinny dipper. And yet, one of the writers, in their infinite wisdom (or perhaps lack thereof), decided to kill off one of them. So far, the collaborative novels written post-2000 have not impressed me. I gave Natural Suspect a one-star review, and this one gets the same.

First posted on my blog My Reader's Block.

Loved!

Love is a beautiful and powerful emotion that can bring people great joy and fulfillment. It has the ability to connect us with others on a deep and meaningful level, and it can inspire us to do great things.

When we are loved, we feel a sense of security and acceptance. We know that there are people in our lives who care about us and support us, no matter what. This can give us the confidence to pursue our dreams and take risks, knowing that we have a safety net to fall back on.

Love can also have a positive impact on our physical and mental health. Studies have shown that people who are in loving relationships tend to be happier, healthier, and live longer than those who are not. Love can reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and boost the immune system.

In conclusion, love is an essential part of our lives. It enriches us in so many ways and makes our world a better place. So, let's cherish the love in our lives and spread it to others whenever we can.

As Britt Montero remarks on page 158, “this is getting confusing.” Indeed, it is. I was all set to assign this book a two-star rating until I discovered that it was originally published weekly, making it a genuine serial novel. So, I decided to be magnanimous and award an additional star to the authors for having to solve other people's literary conundrums under pressure, along with whatever else they were simultaneously working on. Kudos especially to Carl Hiaasen for making relatively good sense of it all within such a brief time frame.

Manatee as a character? Booger was endearing and, surprisingly, worked rather well, except in John Dufresne's peculiar chapter, where Booger “talks” completely out of character and commences waxing philosophical. Fidel Castro (and an ever-expanding number of Castro look-alikes) as a character? Not so much. It's not that I'm a Castro scholar or anything, but it simply didn't seem like his modus operandi.

Despite my leniency regarding the limitations of writing well under a tight deadline, it still felt like this could have been improved. There are some timing glitches (on page 54, it's 8 am, then on 59 it's 2 am), and I couldn't determine if we were hopping around on the same day or if it was meant to be a new day. However, those inconsistencies could hopefully have been better resolved. As some individuals have previously stated, a plethora of characters are introduced within a short number of pages, making it arduous to keep everyone, particularly the minor characters, straight, along with the shell game involving Castro, the Castro impersonators, and the heads that may or may not belong to some of the aforementioned. And what's with so many Americans being able to travel to Cuba without any apparent difficulties? Even President Jimmy Carter gets dispatched there in the end. I also wonder if Les Standiford regrets writing his star character John Deal into the story, and if the events herein are expounded upon or simply forgotten/ignored in subsequent John Deal books, if any exist.

The Detection Club did it best in The Floating Admiral, although they weren't operating under a strict deadline that I'm aware of. Naked Came the Phoenix is a bit absurd and almost as preposterous, but I preferred it much more because I wasn't constantly thinking “now what on earth is happening?” every few pages. Now, nearly 18 years since the first chapter was penned, Manatee can be regarded as an intriguing alternate history.

An interesting concept lies within this work, where each chapter is penned by a different author. It was the Carl Hiaasen section that initially caught my attention. If you are a fan of his work, you will find that this particular part is very much in his distinct style. His unique writing approach and vivid storytelling draw the reader in immediately. It's truly captivating.

The variety of authors contributing to the different chapters adds an element of diversity and新鲜感. Each author brings their own perspective and writing style, making the reading experience rich and engaging. It's like embarking on a literary journey where you get to explore different worlds and ideas.

I would highly recommend giving this a read. Whether you are a long-time follower of Carl Hiaasen or simply someone who enjoys good literature, there is something here for everyone. It's a book that will keep you entertained and engaged from start to finish. So, pick it up and discover the interesting concepts and stories that await you.

Not as funny as I'd hoped it would be.

In 1995 and 1996, a remarkable team of South Florida's finest writers joined forces to create a truly wacky mystery story. This story was published in installments, with each chapter appearing in the Miami Herald's "Tropic" magazine (may it rest in peace).

The first chapter, which set the stage for the entire storyline, was penned by the renowned Dave Barry. It introduced a rather unusual character - a manatee named (you guessed it) Booger. From there, other writers had the task of picking up the story and taking it in their own unique directions. Les Standiford added his series hero, John Deal, to the mix. Then, Paul Levine brought in his attorney hero, Jake Lassiter, who not only represented Deal in a court case but also tried to charm Edna Buchanan's reporter hero, Britt Montero. Tanarive Due, Vicki Hendricks, and others had to make sense of what came before and build upon it. One writer even delved into the mind of Booger - and that of Jimmy Carter, who also became involved in the story somehow. The final chapter, which tied up all the loose ends, was written by Carl Hiaasen.

Due to the collaborative nature of its creation, the storyline jumps around quite a bit as the characters pursue what they believe to be the frozen head of Fidel Castro, only to discover that there is a second head out there as well. I'm certain that reading it in the Tropic installments was great fun, but when trying to read it all together as a book, its flaws become more evident. (And let's not even start on what it gets wrong about manatees.)

Nevertheless, the book does have its pleasures. In particular, it offers a vivid depiction of the insanity of life in South Florida during the mid-1990s. The chapter written by Elmore Leonard, which focuses on a couple of crime-scene clean-up experts explaining their work, is a strangely queasy joy. And kudos to Hiaasen for writing a scene in which the real Fidel Castro, incognito in Miami, gets mugged by a Marielito.

This book gave the distinct impression of having been penned by 13 diverse individuals.

The chapters contributed by Dave Barry and Carl Hiaasen were rather excellent,展现ing their characteristic wit and charm.

There were a few other chapters that were reasonably good, offering some engaging moments.

However, there were also some real disappointments, with certain sections falling flat and lacking in substance.

Surprisingly, there were a few chapters that delved into unexpectedly adult and violent themes, which seemed out of place in the overall context of the book.

Overall, the story felt not-very-cohesive, lacking a unifying thread to tie the various elements together.

As a result, it wasn't even all that interesting, failing to fully engage the reader's attention from start to finish.

It was a bit of a mixed bag, with some highs and lows, but ultimately not a book that would leave a lasting impression.

Dave Barry kicks off this captivating trickster novel with the charming introduction of Booger the Manatee, peacefully coasting through the waters of South Florida. Booger soon finds itself embroiled in a mysterious adventure involving cryogenically frozen, decapitated heads that bear an uncanny resemblance to Fidel Castro. A diverse cast of characters populates this wildly twisted novel, including a scuba diver, a lawyer, an aging naturalist passionate about the preservation of coastal waters, a journalist hungry for her next big story, and other colorful deadbeats. Carl Hiaasen masterfully ties up all the loose ends, delivering a finale that satisfies the reader's curiosity.

In the early 1990s, a South Florida newspaper enlisted 13 well-known local writers to collaborate on a novel in a serial fashion over 13 weeks. Dave Barry had the relatively easy task of getting the story off the ground. Each subsequent author then had just one week to develop the established characters and plot in a logical direction. However, logic might not be the most appropriate term here, as this story takes readers to completely unexpected places and sometimes throws them for a loop. Hiaasen faced the most challenging job of bringing all the wackiness together.

Several authors seized the opportunity to introduce their own well-known characters into the plot. Some authors added such absurdities that I was relieved to move on from that chapter. But most authors did a convincing job of picking up where the story left off and taking it to a new place. Setting aside their egos, the majority of authors recognized what had come before and incorporated it into the next chapter. However, there were a few snide remarks thrown in, where writers made critical commentaries on other writers' ideas or characters.

This book is interesting to read simply for its concept. I believe it only makes sense to read it if you understand how it was assembled. I was unaware when I picked it up that each author was handed the previous chapters and had one week to weave their part of the tale.

Thirteen authors collaborate like a tag-team, each taking up the story and enhancing the mystery.

Long ago, the question lingered: was Fidel Castro still alive in 1997, perhaps succumbing to cancer?

As the story unfolds, the Manatee emerges as a crucial figure, not only playing a life-saving role but also tidying up the chaos left by the deceased false Castros.

Finally, the Manatee discovers love with a female Manatee, and together they swim away into their own idyllic honeymoon.

The tale weaves a web of intrigue and adventure, captivating the reader until the very end.

By the conclusion, I am firmly convinced that the story holds a certain truth, despite its fantastical elements.

It is a testament to the power of the authors' imaginations and their ability to create a world that blurs the lines between reality and fiction.

Overall, it is a remarkable piece of work that keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.